OKI Europe has made a number of changes to its senior management team in order to advance its sales and marketing activities in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.

This has seen Marzio Gobbato named deputy managing director. Reporting to managing director Dennie Kawahara, Mr Gobbato brings in-depth knowledge of the print industry to his new role. He has previously held a series of senior positions within the print industry including at Samsung and HP, across a wide variety of geographies. Most recently he served as regional vice president for OKI Europe’s South Region.

Based at OKI Europe’s EMEA headquarters in the UK, Mr Gobbato will ensure sales and marketing across the region is fully aligned with the parent company’s global strategy. OKI Europe’s regional teams will report directly to Mr Gobbato who, through his extensive experience, will focus on improving collaboration between marketing and sales, as well as increasing cooperation between country organisations, OKI Europe and OKI Data Corporation. Until his replacement is appointed, Gobbato will also retain responsibility for the South Region.

Further changes include:

  • Chiharu Asai, formerly marketing director, named vice president, corporate planning. This role includes general administration, business control, legal and compliance, and HR management responsibilities. Ms Asai’s key objectives are to ensure OKI continues to build a company of strong, motivated staff, and creating a healthy, proactive and stable work environment;
  • Susumu Miura becomes vice president, operations and special projects. He moves up from the role now filled by Ms Asai. In his new role, Mr Miura oversees important tasks that require special attention by the business as well as IT and customer services;
  • Koichiro (Ken) Fukano, previously vice president, operations at OKI Europe, is appointed vice president, marketing and supply chain management. Reporting to Mr Gobbato, Mr Fukano’s primary responsibility will be managing OKI’s day-to-day marketing operations across the EMEA region, keeping them in line with the organisation’s strategies and goals; and
  • Shu Watanabe is appointed vice president, industry print, rising from his previous role as head of wide format. Also reporting to Mr Gobbato, Mr Watanabe will focus on achieving the business targets for the company’s industry print division, including revenue and profit and driving sales and marketing initiatives to help achieve this.
  • Shigeru Ogasawara remains vice president, finance.

Mr Kawahara commented, ‘Modern business tactics and trends require a new approach and way of thinking and OKI Europe’s new leadership team reinforces our determination to ensure we are supporting customers to quickly adapt to this. The breadth of experience and wide-ranging expertise of the new management team will help align the organisation and place us in a strong position to meet all the challenges of a fast-changing market.’

With these promotions, OKI Europe has moved to focus on pioneering industry print technology and to align its business structure and portfolio with specific verticals.